Improvement in shoes



THOMAS RICHARD EVANS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN SHOES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0.'103,164, dated May 17, 1870.

I, THoMAS RICHARD EVANS, of Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, State o f Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Buttoned Gaiters, of which the following is a specification: Y

Net/We and Object of the Invention.

My invention consists of a buttoned gaiter, constructed in the peculiar manner fully described hereafter, so that, while it possesses all the advantages of a common brogan or army shoe as regards simplicity and comfort to the wearer, it has the neat appearance of an ordinary buttoned gaiter, with none of the objections ofthe latter.

Description of the Accompany/ng Drawing.

` General Description. The body or lower portion, A, of an ordiu nary buttoned gaiter, such as shown in Fig.

4, is usually made of calf-skin or other stout Y leather, joined by a seam, (which extends entirely around the Shoe,) to an upper portion, B, of softerand more pliable leather.

The portion B iS open in front from the seam upward, and a iap, O, secured at one side of this opening, is arranged to conceal and close the same when drawn over and buttoned at the opposite side of the said opening, as shown in the drawing.

This gaiter presents a very neat appearance, but is somewhat expensive, as it consists of a number of pieces, which require to be carefully stitched together; but the great objection to its use is, that the seam iS apt to bind upon the foot and annoy the wearer, owing, in a great measure, to the unequal contraction or expansion of the two qualities of leather employed in 'the manufacture of the gaiter.

These objections I have entirely overcome, without detracting from the neat appearance of the gaiter, by constructing the latter on the model of a brogan, (see Fig. 5,) which is well known as the cheapest and simplest form of shoe, and one which readily adapts itself to the foot of the wearer.

The body of the improved gaiter consists of the three main portions of which a brogan is composed-namely, a front or toe piece, F, and side pieces, H and H', sewed to the sides of the front piece from the Sole up to the point a, and connected together by a seam at the back. These side rpieces, however, are made as high as an ordinary buttoned gaiter, so that they may fit around the ankle, and to one of them is secured an extension or button-hole flap, J, which is arranged to overlap the up-v per portion of the piece F, so as to be drawn over and fastened by buttons,'or their equivalents, to the opposite side piece, as sho-wn in Fig. 3.

For cheapqualities of gaiters it will be sufficient to extend the front piece back between the flaps or side pieces, so as to form a short tongue, as in the brogan 5 but for finer work -I prefer to connect a separate tongue, b, to the front piece, as shown in Figs. l and 2, in Such a manner as to form an angle at y. The flap J when the gaiter is buttoned, will adapt itself to this angle, and will hold the tongue up, and thus prevent the loosening and consequent wrinkling of the front piece, F, over the top of the foot.

It will be evident that by the above simple improvement a gaiter can be made which, While possessing all the advantages of a common brogan as regards simplicity and comfort to the wearer, will present as neat an appearance as an ordinary buttoned gaiter, and yet is free from any of the objections of the latter.

Claims.

1. A shoe having side pieces, H and H', of the form described, extended upward to surround the ankle, and provided with a flap, J, and with. buttons, when the said side pieces are secured together, and to a front piece, F, so as to overlap the upper portion ofthe latter, substantially as specified.

2. The tongue l), secured to the front'piece, F, substantially in the manner described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my- -name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS RICHARD EVANS. Witnesses:

HARRY SMITH, WM. A. STEEL. 

